Bowen Yang’s journey to “Saturday Night Live” was not without its challenges, as he recently revealed during an interview on “Hot Ones.” Yang recalled his initial screen test for the iconic sketch comedy series in 2017, where he had a less-than-ideal interaction with creator Lorne Michaels.
In the interview, Yang shared that during his one-on-one meeting with Michaels and producer Erik Kenward, he made the mistake of mentioning his Canadian background in an attempt to connect with Michaels. However, this move backfired, as Yang felt that he had unwittingly pandered to Michaels’ Canadianness, resulting in a “disaster” of a screen test.
Despite the setback, Yang eventually found his place on “SNL” in 2018 as a staff writer. His hard work paid off, and he was promoted to an on-air featured player the following year. In 2021, Yang made history as the first “SNL” featured player to receive an Emmy nomination in an acting category.
Reflecting on his experience, Yang shared that fellow cast member Aidy Bryant had encouraged him to see Michaels as a human being and potentially build a friendship with him. This advice gave Yang the confidence to approach Michaels on a more personal level, a move he never thought possible with the legendary creator.
Yang’s career has continued to soar, with his latest project being Universal’s “Wicked,” a musical movie starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jeff Goldblum. In the film, Yang plays Pfannee, a loyal confidante to Glinda, portrayed by Grande. “Wicked” is the first of two big-screen adaptations of the popular Broadway musical.
Fans can catch Yang in “Wicked,” which is currently in theaters. His journey from a challenging screen test to making history on “SNL” serves as a testament to his talent, perseverance, and ability to navigate the competitive world of comedy.
